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| Silsilungan Falls in Adams |
By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
Adams,
Ilocos Norte—At a time when traditional
hunting and gathering has been embedded as a cultural practice transferred from
generation to generations, up to what extent indigenous peoples here should be
able to let go of tradition and turn to the need of the time—the protection of
the environment.
“As a member of the indigenous
peoples (IPs), we are trying to encourage our people to refrain from hunting
and gathering because it is now prohibited by law,” said the Brgy. Chairperson and
Adams Liga ng mga Barangay President Maelyn Daquioag-Guinayen. Adams is composed
of just one barangay.
Nestled deep in the mountains
and surrounded by forests, crystal clear rivers and waterfalls in the northern part
of Ilocos Norte, Adams is gaining popularity among nature lovers and has attracted
foreign, domestic and local tourists to visit and experience extreme adventure.
Opening its windows to
eco-tourism development with the ongoing construction of access roads supported
by the Department of Tourism, Department of Public Works and Highways and the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, has likewise put this hidden
paradise vulnerable to environment abuse if not properly managed.
“This is why we continue to
educate our constituents and help each other to protect our environment,” said
Guinayen in response to a recent controversy sparked by netizens outrage over a
local hunter of Adams, when he proudly showed a carcass of a juvenile hornbill killed
with his air gun. Tourists with camera took a snapshot of him and later on
posted it in Facebook, generating more than 93,000 views and with negative
comments from wildlife conservationists.
Guinayen said that the
hunting of wild birds and animals has already been a part of the culture of the
IPs as they are largely dependent on harvest from the forest.
“Our forefathers had been
used to it and this has been a source of our livelihood. Though it’s hard, we
are doing our best to educate our constituents for our own good,” she stressed.
Wild birds like the endangered
hornbill play a crucial role in ecological balance.
Even the local police here
admitted that they are having a hard time implementing environment laws as
official complaints have yet to be filed against violators.
To prevent further
degradation to the environment, assigned sectoral councilors here have been
going on a house-to-house drive to conduct information and education drive for
sustainable development.
“We hope our fellow IPs will
have an open mind to accept reality,” Guinayen said citing the traditional
practice of slash-and-burn farming is still being practiced here.
To date, the Philippine
Coconut Authority continue to engage the IP community here to support their
livelihood program such as the establishment of fruit plantations such as
coconut, rambutan, lansones, coffee and cacao among others.
The local government unit
here in cooperation with other government agencies also provide alternative
livelihood for the IPs such as training them as tour guides and engaging them
in various skills training and food processing.
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